Welsh government invests in tidal energy expansion

The Welsh government has invested in a water-energy nexus project in North Wales that will expand green energy production from tidal power from 18MW to 240MW.

Largest tidal scheme in Europe

The Morlais tidal energy project is located off the northwest coast of Ynys Cybi (Holy Island), Ynys Môn (Anglesey). It currently produces 18MW grid capacity using some of the strongest tidal currents in the UK – with currents of up to 3.7 m/s or 7 knots – as part of the Low Carbon Energy programme of the North Wales Growth Deal – a €1.2 billion investment in the region’s economy.

The Welsh government is investing €10.7 million through the North Wales Economic Ambition Board as part of the €19.3 million Cydnerth expansion, which will see capacity increase dramatically to 240 MW grid capacity by 2026. At the time consent was given, this makes Morlais the largest tidal energy scheme to be approved in Europe.

Welsh government cabinet secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, told media: “The approval of the Cydnerth project marks a significant step forward for North Wales as a leader in tidal energy and low-carbon innovation.”

She added: “This investment will push economic growth and create high-quality jobs, building on our equity stake in the wider Morlais project and reinforcing our commitment to a sustainable future. With the invaluable support of the North Wales Growth Deal, we are ensuring that North Wales remains at the forefront of renewable energy, harnessing its natural resources for generations to come.”

Social enterprise tidal energy

The scheme is run by Menter Môn, a not-for-profit social enterprise, which operates throughout Wales but with a focus on Ynys Môn (Anglesey) and Gwynedd. Menter Môn focuses on unlocking the potential of people and resources to secure the future of the communities in which it operates. It does this primarily through renewable energy schemes such as Morlais, which aims to boost the local economy through the creation of more than 200 jobs and supply chain contracts.

Dafydd Gruffydd, managing director of Menter Môn told media he welcomed the government’s support: “We are very grateful for the support of Ambition North Wales which has made this project possible. With the backing of the North Wales Growth Deal, we can now take the next step in expanding the Morlais tidal energy scheme, bringing benefits to our communities, creating local jobs, and contributing to the region's sustainable growth.”

Plug and play model for tidal energy

According to Mentor Môn, the Cydnerth phase of the Morlais scheme offers a ‘plug and play’ model for developers of tidal energy devices, which can help future operators to reduce costs while scaling up clean electricity generation.

In total, the social enterprise manages an area of 35Km² of the seabed near Ynys Cybi (Holy Island), Ynys Môn (Anglesey), with a substation based on shore and underground cables connecting the station to the national grid. Once up to full speed, the 240MW grid capacity generated will be enough to generate up to 180,000 typical households.

Evans added: “We want to make Wales a world centre for emerging tidal technologies and we’re off to a good start on several fronts. Our investment will support Menter Môn Morlais to scale up capacity and develop an industrial cluster for tidal energy and innovation in north Wales, whilst delivering jobs and growth through its pioneering technology, keeping the value local. This will further benefit clean energy suppliers of all sizes and position Wales at the forefront of the energy transition.”

Using turbines to generate electricity

The Cydnerth extension will use HydroWing units supplied by Inyanga Marine Energy Group. Each ‘wing’ will use Tocardo T3 turbines, which feature a rotor diameter of 14 metres. The 19-meter frame height means the turbines stand within optimal flow conditions for maximum yield. Additionally, they can generate electricity in both tidal directions.

Richard Parkinson, CEO of Inyanga Marine Energy Group, told media: “The patented HydroWing design includes a number of innovative features, which together represent a step change in tidal energy design, increasing energy yield and reducing costs. The ‘all in one’ HydroWing system is based on a modular approach, which dramatically reduces CAPEX and installation costs.”